West Virginia's Blue Yonder makes its first appearance on Mountain Stage, recorded live at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, W.Va. Though this is the group's first time on the show, two of its members, John Lilly and Robert Shafer, have popped up dozens of times over the years.

Lilly is a respected songwriter who also edits Goldenseal, the long-running chronicle of traditional West Virginia life. Guitarist Shafer is one of the region's most in-demand players, having won the Walnut Valley National Flat Picking Championship twice. Bassist Will Carter has played with numerous bluegrass and old-time bands over the years. Here, the trio's country and honky-tonk roots are on full display.